12. La Sante Prison

With both VIP and high-security wings, La Sante prison is among the most famous in France. Built in 1867, it is one of the three main prisons in Paris, and was used to hold both common criminals and prisoners of war during World War ll. The prison also features a hub-and-spoke design that was previously seen at Philadelphia's Eastern State Penitentiary.

Enough about the architecture, though—the interior conditions of this prison are filthy. Prisoners are reportedly forced to share their cells with unwanted company: rats and lice. As far as daily life goes, the stronger prisoners often enslave the weaker ones, and rape is as common as rodents. Due to violence, unsanitary conditions, lack of proper staffing, and overcrowding, many prisoners fall into deep states of depression and opt for suicide.